Which Teams Bid For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In IPL Auction Before RR Bought Him? – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The Bidding War Behind the IPL Rising Star

The Rise of a Teenage Sensation

The cricketing world is currently in awe of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old batting prodigy who has taken the IPL by storm. Hailing from Bihar, Sooryavanshi has redefined expectations for youngsters in the shortest format of the game. His presence at the crease now brings an undeniable sense of anticipation, as spectators expect boundaries and fireworks with every ball he faces.

His recent performance in the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad served as a masterclass in aggressive batting. Falling just shy of a historic record, the teenager hammered 97 runs off only 29 balls. While he narrowly missed out on eclipsing Chris Gayle’s legendary record for the fastest IPL century, his ability to dominate world-class bowling attacks at such a tender age is nothing short of extraordinary.

The IPL 2025 Auction: Behind the Scenes

While Sooryavanshi is now a household name, his journey into the Rajasthan Royals (RR) camp is a story of strategic scouting. During the IPL 2025 mega auction, teams were tasked with rebuilding their cores, and Sooryavanshi—listed with a base price of INR 30 lakhs—became a target for clubs looking to invest in future potential.

Surprisingly, the bidding process for the young talent was not an overcrowded affair. The primary contenders were the Delhi Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals. Delhi Capitals were the first to signal their interest, initiating the bid for the youngster. However, Rajasthan Royals, having identified his rare potential early on, were determined to add him to their roster.

The bidding war saw the price rise until Hemang Badani & Co. secured the teenager’s services for INR 1.10 crore. Eventually, Delhi Capitals opted to drop the paddle, leaving Rajasthan Royals to finalize the acquisition. Given that RR had already retained a strong core of players—including Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, and Sandeep Sharma—the inclusion of Sooryavanshi was viewed as a high-reward investment.

A High-Value Acquisition

Despite not being among the most expensive buys of the auction, Sooryavanshi’s impact has been disproportionately large. In financial terms, he was actually one of the most budget-friendly acquisitions for the Royals, ranking fifth from the bottom in terms of the total investment per player in their 2025 squad. Rajasthan Royals spent a total of INR 40.70 crore to acquire 20 players, and in hindsight, the 1.10 crore spent on Sooryavanshi looks like one of the most shrewd pieces of business in the franchise’s history.

The Path to Superstardom

Sooryavanshi’s rise was not an overnight fluke. In the 2025 IPL season, while he did not receive as many opportunities as he has this year, he still managed to make a significant impression. He scored 252 runs at an average of 36.00 across seven matches, including a blistering 37-ball century. These glimpses of brilliance were only further polished through his participation in Under-19 cricket.

His consistency against England and Australia in Under-19 series, followed by an impressive showing in the Under-19 Asia Cup, highlighted his readiness for the professional stage. By the time the Under-19 World Cup 2026 arrived, he had amassed 439 runs in seven innings with a strike rate of 169.50, establishing himself as a global prospect.

Breaking Records in 2026

The current IPL 2026 season has seen Sooryavanshi reach new heights, with performance metrics that even veteran players struggle to achieve. He has set a new benchmark for power-hitting, having smashed the most sixes in a single T20 tournament, surpassing the tallies previously held by legends like Chris Gayle.

His dominance is reflected in his statistics: as of the latest count, he boasts the highest strike rate in the 2026 edition of the tournament, sitting at an incredible 242.85. With 15 matches under his belt, he has accumulated four half-centuries and a century, maintaining an impressive average of 45.33. As he continues to wear the Orange Cap and dismantle opposition bowling lineups, the decision by Rajasthan Royals to bid aggressively for him in 2025 continues to pay massive dividends for the franchise.